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Exclusive interview: Mark Hunt seeks 'even playing field' from UFC

12 Jan, 2017 4:08pm

4 minutes to read

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Kiwi mixed martial arts fighter Mark Hunt is suing his employers, the UFC for more than $3.5 million dollars. He’s seeking damages after his UFC 200 opponent Brock Lesnar tested positive for a banned substance. The 42-year-old filed the lawsuit in Nevada District Court today, among the charges are allegations of conspiracy to commit a crime, fraud and breach of contract.

Still contracted to the UFC and preparing for his next fight against Alistair Overeem in March, the heavyweight is sick of being matched against rivals on steroids.

"The first time, it ruined the fight and I thought, 'Maybe it's just this guy'," Hunt told NZ Herald Focus exclusively. "The second guy ... the difference was I won the first fight, but this time I lost and it made me look differently at it.

"I thought this isn't fair. I broke my hand in the first fight against a cheater. I was out for a whole year, and he got suspended for nine months and was fighting before I did."

The last straw came when former WWE exponent Brock Lesnar beat Hunt at UFC 2000 last July, pocketing a record $2.5 million purse, but subsequently returned a positive drugs test. Lesnar was fined $250,000 and suspended for a year, eligible to return in July 2017.

"They [UFC] knew the guy was cheating and using steroids, and they allowed it to happen.

"For me, it's an unfair practice that they've been doing and not just this time - the last three guys I've fought have been on steroids.